Biarritz (AFP)
The G7 in Biarritz, which costs France a total of 36.4 million euros, will welcome nearly 2,000 accredited journalists and 3,000 people linked to the delegations of countries and organizations invited, said the Elysee Thursday.
Journalists who come to withdraw their accreditation are welcomed, as at each summit, by a bag containing some gifts. In Biarritz, they find a box of chocolates, a small plastic bottle of sugar cane and a ceramic saucer. But also, what is unusual, a gift card Edenred group credited 75 euros to use up to 25 euros per meal from 23 to 26 August in the 600 restaurants participating in this operation.
AFP decided that its journalists would not use this gift card.
The group Edenred explained in a letter that it is a sponsorship operation and that the card is recyclable plastic.
The government claims to have limited costs for the organization of the international summit, which will be held from Saturday to Monday in Biarritz, seaside town of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
Parliament has voted a total of 36.4 million euros, "a figure much lower than those we have known for previous summits whether in Canada or Italy," said Wednesday the door -Separate of the government, Sibeth Ndiaye, at the end of the Council of Ministers of return.
The government has "appealed to the patronage of a number of large companies," said the spokesman. He also underlined the "concern for eco-responsible management" of the G7 including the involvement of food shops "at the heart of the provision of meals" participants of this international summit.
A total of 13,200 police and gendarmes, supported by the military forces, were mobilized to ensure the safety of the summit, the counter-summit and planned events.
© 2019 AFP